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Ski
Hiking Trail Conditions Report
Peaks
Peaks North Hancock, South Hancock, NH
Trails
Trails: Hancock Notch Trail, Cedar Brook Trail, Hancock Loop Trail
Date of Hike
Date of Hike: Saturday, March 6, 2021
Parking/Access Road Notes
Parking/Access Road Notes: Found a space a little after 7. Upon returning around 10:30, the lot was full. Just barely got out, as vehicles parked parallel along the access lane, leaving very little room for one to pull out of their space (fortunately a couple helped me do a 5-point turn to get out of the space, literally by inches, due to how close someone had parked in front of me and on one side). Overflow further down Route 112 was also full. 
Surface Conditions
Surface Conditions: Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes 
Recommended Equipment
Recommended Equipment: Snowshoes 
Water Crossing Notes
Water Crossing Notes: The last two on Hancock Notch Trail were open, but hoppable. Cedar Brook Trail crossing was mostly snowbridged. Hancock Loop Trail crossings were snow bridged. 
Trail Maintenance Notes
Trail Maintenance Notes: Some blowdowns on the Hancock Notch Trail (a few of which could make it difficult to navigate when the trail is not evident. 
Dog-Related Notes
Dog-Related Notes:  
Bugs
Bugs:  
Lost and Found
Lost and Found:  
 
Comments
Comments: Hancock Notch and Cedar Brook Trails were in good shape and well packed (though there was some active drifting on part of Cedar Brook) with an inch or so of powder on top. Looks like some folks may have been skiing into Hancock Notch this morning.

Hancock Loop Trail was decently packed for the approach, however there was a decent amount of new powder from drifting starting around the split. Someone had postholed/buttslid the steeps, but fortunately snowshoed across the ridge. Some active drifting on the ridge had already erased a portion of their tracks. Snowpack up high is probably 4 feet and there is not a hardpack base underneath the footbed.

I wore snowshoes roundtrip and think a good mountain snowshoe is the most efficient way of doing this hike right now, particularly with respect of leaving the trail in equal or better shape for those that will follow.

A little chilly and windy at the start, but sunny skies made things comfortable later in the morning.  
Name
Name: rocket21 
E-Mail
E-Mail: rocket21@franklinwebpublishing.com 
Date Submitted
Date Submitted: 2021-03-06 
Link
Link: https://www.franklinsites.com/hikephotos 
Bookmark and Share Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense.

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